Related Articles

Liven up your next special event with cakes that contain a surprise candy center. Be creative when it comes to choosing the types of candy to include, whether it's hard candies or softer, chewy treats. Chocolate cake mixes well with candy bars or peanut butter cups, while yellow cake will show off red hots, candy corn or rainbow gumdrops. Whether you use a favorite cake recipe or a boxed mix, candy can turn an average cake into a party centerpiece.

Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch cake pan or place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. Preheat oven according to recipe or mix instructions.

Prepare cake batter as directed and pour the batter into the prepared pan or liners. If using a pan, place removable cellophane tape from edge to edge of the top of the pan to mark off 12 squares for 12 individual servings. This technique will help guide the placement of the candies so that every serving contains one or more pieces.

Take candies from the freezer and remove any foil or wrappings. If using larger candy bars, chop them up into smaller pieces. Dredge frozen candy in a bowl of all-purpose flour so that each piece has a light coating of flour.

Press one large or several small candies in the middle of each serving square or cupcake, taking care to keep the candies away from the edges of the pan or liners. Make sure they are completely covered by the batter.

Place the pan into the oven, keeping it level so the candies won't shift. Bake according to package or recipe directions, or until the cake is set and edges and tops are golden brown. The cake should spring back when you gently press your finger on the top. Avoid using a toothpick to test for cake doneness, as results may be affected by the gooey candy centers in the cake.

Remove cake from oven and allow to cool thoroughly. Frost or decorate as desired.

Items you will need

Cake batter

9x13 inch cake pan or cupcake pan

Oil and flour

Cupcake liners (optional)

Candy objects for filling

All purpose flour

Cellophane tape (optional)

Tip

If you are using hard candies like red hots, premix the candy into the batter and place the batter in the refrigerator for up to an hour before pouring it into your baking pan or cupcake cups. This will allow the candies to soften and dissolve enough so they don't sink to the bottom of the cake pan.

References

Bake It in a Cupcake: 50 Treats with a Surprise Inside; Megan Seling

Resources

About the Author

Bonnie Singleton has been writing professionally since 1996. She has written for various newspapers and magazines including "The Washington Times" and "Woman's World." She also wrote for the BBC-TV news magazine "From Washington" and worked for Discovery Channel online for more than a decade. Singleton holds a master's degree in musicology from Florida State University and is a member of the American Independent Writers.